Ducks send Koivu, Fasth home for evaluation

Ducks center Saku Koivu lies on the ice after being hit by Columbus center Brandon Dubinsky (17). Koivu had to be sent to Anaheim for medical evaluation. EAMON QUEENEY, MCT

PHILADELPHIA – Ducks center Saku Koivu and goalie Viktor Fasth were sent to Anaheim for further medical evaluation and treatment of their respective injuries as the team’s depth continues to be tested.

Koivu was knocked out of Sunday’s game against Columbus on a hit by Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky and will undergo further tests from the club’s medical staff in Anaheim because he had lost consciousness, as per NHL protocol.

Fasth is returning to Orange County to receive therapy on a troublesome lower-body injury that has left him unavailable to play for the last six games. If he responds to treatment, Fasth could return by the end of the week.

Dubinsky did not face supplemental discipline for his hit on Koivu late in the second period of the Ducks' 4-3 victory over the Blue Jackets. At the time, Dubinsky was given a five-minute major penalty for interference and a game misconduct.

Koivu had to be helped from the ice but the NHL, which reviews all plays in every game, determined that Dubinsky's hit was body-on-body and that contact with his head was incidental.

If Koivu is not suffering from any concussion-like symptoms, it is possible that he could return to the Ducks before their eight-game road trip ends Monday in New York against the Rangers.

Dubinsky told the Columbus Dispatch that he used the cell phone of Jackets teammate and one-time Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski to send a text message to Koivu that it wasn't his intention to hurt him.

“I obviously agree with what they (the NHL's department of player safety) assessed, what they thought of it,” Dubinsky said. “Obviously they agreed with what I thought of it. I'll say it again, I don't want Saku to get hurt in that situation.

“I wouldn't want to hurt anybody. I don't think I'm a player who tries to hurt people.”

To fill an open forward spot, the Ducks recalled Rickard Rakell from Norfolk of the American Hockey League. Rakell is tied for the Admirals' lead in goals with four and has five points in nine games.

The Ducks are already dealing with the loss of winger Jakob Silfverberg, who will be lost for at least a month because of a broken hand suffered Friday against Ottawa. Peter Holland was recalled to replace Mathieu Perreault, who has a sprained wrist.

Holland scored a goal Sunday in his debut this season while Frederik Andersen has ably filled in for Fasth, making 18 saves against the Blue Jackets to improve to 3-0.

The Ducks still haven’t had the services of defenseman Luca Sbisa (sprained ankle) and left wing Matt Beleskey (broken thumb). Sbisa is closer to a return as he has been practicing regularly.

Perreault and Dustin Penner (concussion) also worked out at Wells Fargo Center and Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said the two are “possibilities” for the game against the Flyers.

POWER CHANGE

Perhaps out of answers for his horrific power play, Boudreau turned to assistant coach Bob Woods for some help as the Ducks had a five-minute man advantage entering the third period in a tie game with the Blue Jackets.

“I talked to Bob about it and he gave me some advice to go with some other people,” Boudreau said. “I thought it was great advice and I used it.”

The Ducks are still at the bottom of the league in power-play efficiency but they were an embarrassing 3-for-48 until Dubinsky’s major penalty gave them a shot to change their fortunes.

Finally, it was Emerson Etem who punched in a rebound of a Teemu Selanne shot for a 3-2 lead. Etem had been put on the second unit and delivered his first career power-play tally.

“When you go with some other people, it does two things,” Boudreau said. “It gets the original group probably a little bit madder and it gives the other guys the opportunity to show what they can do. So it worked two-fold.”

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